Fredeen v. Stride

Plaintiff brought this action against two defendants for conversion of her dog. The trial court instructed the jury that both defendants were guilty of conversion as a matter of law. The jury returned a verdict against both defendants and awarded $500 for conversion of the dog, $4,000 for mental anguish, and $700 as punitive damages. On appeal defendants contend that the trial court erred in refusing to strike plaintiff’s claim for general damages for mental suffering and for punitive damages.

We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. In December of 1969 plaintiff’s…